The Michigan Daily - Sunday, September 23, 1984 -Page 7
Wolverines bombard Badgers, 20-14
(Continued from Page 1)
llgame.
After that, the Wisconsin offense marched 150 yar-
on its next two possessions but were kept off the
eboard.
'THE BADGERS first drive ended on a third-and-
even play at the Michigan 21. Quarterback Mike
oward hit tight end Bret Pearson over the middle
or 12 yards, but Rivers swiped the ball out of Pear-
on's grasp and linebacker Jim Scarcelli came up
ith it at the nine.
Following three Michigan plays and a 65-yard punt
y Monte Robbins, the Badgers went on the move on-
ce again. Howard hit wide receiver Al Toon for 16
yards, but a gang-tackling Wolverine defense
brought Toon down at the one-yard line.
On the next play, backup tailback and All-Big Ten
baseball player, Joe Armentrout was blasted behind
the line of scrimmage by Rivers and Mike Mallory
and coughed the ball up into the hands of Rodney
Lyles, spoiling another golden opportunity for a
Badger touchdown.
IF IT WASN'T for the four or five fumbles, we
would have won the game," said Howard, who
finished the day 14 out of 24 for 152 yards. "I think
today was a rare game in terms of turnovers. We had
sine people fumble the ball today who never make
mistakes."
Wisconsin's problems didn't end there. Early in the
sdcond quarter, Robbins kicked a 39 yarder to the Big
Ten's leading punt returner, Thad McFadden. Mc-
Fradden burst through the middle for 31 yards, but was
stripped of the ball by Brad Cochran and Robbins.
recovered in Wisconsin territory.
From there, the Wolverines marched 47 yards for a
touchdown, which came on an eight-yard pass from
Jim Harbaugh to tight end Sim Nelson to give
Michigan a 10-0 lead at halftime.
ON ITS FIRST possession of the third quarter,
Wisconsin didn't have the ball long enough for the
Wolverines to take it away. On the Badgers' first
play, Emery broke a few tackles in the backfield and
bolted down the east sideline for a 52-yard touchdown
romp that quickly brought Wisconsin back into the
game.
But that score seemed to bring the Michigan offen-
se to life. The Wolverines marched 80 yards on the
possession that followed and boosted their lead back
up to 10 while consuming over seven minutes of the
clock. Fullback Bob Perryman ended the assault
with a three-yard plunge into the endzone.
The star of this drive was tailback Jamie Morris.
The little freshman, who carried 28 times for 138 yar-
ds on the day, accounted for 57 of the 80 yards covered
on seven rushes and two receptions.
"It's a marvelous thing that a little kid like that
can .go in as a freshman and run over 20 times for
over 100 yards and come out as bouncey as ever,"
said Schembechler, who had three other tailbacks -
Gerald White, Rick Rogers, and Phil Webb
unavailable because of injury.
Wisconsin kept the pressure on the Wolverines.
Just as he had done twice last week against Missouri,
cornerback Richard Johnson blocked a punt to give to
the Badgers great field position at the Michigan 14
early in the fourth quarter.
Four plays later, Emery scooted around left end for
a two-yard touchdown that cut the Michigan lead to
17-14.
ONCE AGAIN, however, the Wolverines responded
with a key drive that ended with a 50-yard Bergeron
field goal to give Michigan a bit of breathing room
with 6:51 left in the game.
The offensive line of the Wolverines had been under
fire in the first two games, but responded yesterday
when the team needed it most, on the two second-half
scoring drives.
"We were upset with ourselves after last week's
performance," said tackle Clay Miller. "I think we
did much better today. We're good ballplayers and
have to start playing like it."
Wisconsin got three more cracks with the ball, but
its drives ended with a punt, fumble and finally an in-
terception by Cochran after the Badgers had driven
to the Michigan 34 in the final minute of play.
"This win is a credit to the team," said Schem-
bechler. "We were a little knicked (injured). It was a
gutty victory. I'm pleased at the way we won this
game."
Although once again they didn't look outstanding,
the Wolverines find themselves atop the Big Ten
standings after one week of play.
"We're not quite ready to win the Big Ten cham-
pionship," said Harbaugh. "But there's along way to
go
L4 p
Badgers turn over
SCORING
MICHIGAN .........................3 7 7. 13-20
Wilconsin ...........................0 0 7 7-14
SCORING PLAYS
MICH-Bergeron 27-yard field goal
MICH-Nelson 8-yard pass from Harbaugh (Bergeron
kick)
WIS. Emery 52-yard run (Gregoire kick)
ICH-Perryman 3-yard run (Bergeron kick)
S-Emery 2-yard run (Gregoire kick)
MICH-Bergeron 50-yard field goal
Punts (No/Avg).
Penalties (No/Yd
Time of Possessi
First downs .......
Rtishing (Att/Yds)
Nt Passing Yards.
Passing (Att/
Comp/Int .....
Total Yards .......
Futtbles (No/Lost)
MICH
19
56/207
137
21/11/0
316
0/0
WIS
20
37/260
151
24/14/1
385
5/5
Morris .........
Garrett.........
Perryman ......
Logue ..........
Harbaugh ......
Emery .........
Harrison .......
Bonner ........
Armentrout ....
... 7/39.7
Is) 6/76
on 35:13
Rushing
MICHIGAN
Att Yds
... 28 138
... 9 26
... 8 18
... 1 4
... 9 -12
WISCONSIN
... 17 185
6 28
... 2 15
...4 10
3/38.7
2/15
24:47
McFadden ,...., I
Howard ........... 7
9
-13
Passing
MICHIGAN
Att Comp
Harbaugh ........... 21 11
Returns
Int Yds TD
0 137 1
Doily Photo by DAN HABIB
Avg
4.9
2.9
2.3
4
-1.3
10.9
4.7
7.5
2.5
TD'
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
0
WISCONSIN
Howard............. 24 14 1
151 0
Receiving
MICHIGAN
No Yds
Morris .................... 4 45
Bean .....................2 33
Logue ..................... 1 9
Nelson....................4 50
MICHIGAN
Punts
No/Yds
Gant ...................... 1/18
G. Johnson ................ 1/7
Morris....................
Garrett ....................
WISCONSIN
McFadden ................ 1/31
R. Johnson ................ 1/11
M. Jones .................
9.0 0
-1.9 0
Kickoffs
No/Yds
2/37
1/-3
1/16
2/31
Wisconsin fullback Joe Armentrout coughs up the ball at the Michigan one-
yard line. It was the third of five Badger fumbles.
WISCONSIN
McFadden................1
Bonner .................... 3
Harrison .................. 3
Pearson................... 3
Toon ...................... 4
13
27
9
49
53
0
0
0
0
0
TD
0
0
0
1
Raising lel
By PA UL KELGREN
amie.
(Continued from Page 1)
cxries against a tough Wisconsin
do'ense yesterday, as Michigan beat
tl Badgers, 20-14.
Morris is the first freshman back to
gan over 100 yards in a single game
iice the remarkable Butch Woolfolk.
"Can you imagine a little kid like that
going in against a hard hitting team,
cairying the ball 28 times, gaining over
100 yards and coming out still as bouncy
as'ever," said Schembechler. "There is
something to this kid but the circum-
stances have to be right for him to even
get the opportunity (to play)."
THE circumstances were right for
Morris this week. Gerald White, Rick
Rogers and Phil Webb were all out Iiur-
sing injuries from the Washington con-
eSt. With three top tailbacks missing
frm the line-up, Schembechler gave
Mbrris the nod.
"So, Jamie had to go in there," stated
Morris is little
the Wolverine mentor. "He's a real
gutty little football player."
Morris had little time to prepare for
the mental challenges of his first start
as a Wolverine. "On Friday morning I
went in to watch films and coach Bo
called me over and told me I was star-
ting."
BUT Schembechler did have some
words of wisdom for his youthful
dynamo.
"I was nervous" Morris admitted.
"But coach Bo calmed me down and
told me to look at it like a high school
game. 'Wow, a dream come true," was
the first thing I said to myself. It was
always my dream to start for
Michigan."
The realization of this dream was
especially sour for Wisconsin head
coach Dave McClain. Morris was
heavily recruited by both Michigan and
Wisconsin among others. As a
Massachusetts Ayer High
Morris had narrowed his c
choice to the two Big Ten rivals
"I CALLED (Wisconsin) th
made my decision and I told cc
Clam that I wanted to c
Michigan. I told him it was m
- that I wanted to come to n
and play."
Morris broke a family tradit
his choice. Three of his brother
Syracuse with their football ta
cluding Joe, now a running bac
New York Giants.
"I was seven or eight yearsc
I saw my first Michigan-Oh
game. I always told my brothe
wanted to come here."
IN ONLY his third game o
football, Morris has shown tret
potential in many areas.
big man
senior at In addition to his lofty rushing yar-
School, dage, the rookie nabbed four Jim Har-
ollegiate baugh passes for 45 yards, his long play
. - being a second quarter reception up the
he day I middle for 18 yards.
oach Mc- Though primarily used as a tailback
ome to this year, because of the injuries,
y dream Schembechler listed Morris as a wide
Michigan receiver because of his size. This is
especially surprising considering
tion with Morris' rushing prowess in high school.
s went to
lents, in- "WE DIDN'T even throw the ball in
k for the high school. I just screwed around with
my brothers during the off-season. We
old when threw the ball back and forth and I just
iio State developed the hands."
ers that I Look out for some explosive kick-off
returns from this young man as well.
f college He returned two of Wisconsin's three
mendous kickoffs for an average of 18.5 yards.
Last week, Morris took two of
Washington's kickoffs for 21 yards.
As little as he is, Morris has the
unique ability to take some punishing
:z knocks from the opposition, attempting
to take advantage of his diminutive
stature. Time and time again, the fiesty
Morris clawed his way out from under a
S pack of 250-plus pound tacklers.
"IT'S LIKE it is a mental aspect,"
Morris explained. As I get hit, I'll take
it and I'll think about it and say, 'Gosh
that was a hard hit' and I'll get up."
Morris seems to possess the maturity
and poise it takes to be a freshman star-
ter in the Big Ten. He certainly has the
talent. Whatever problems may arise
with his play during the season, Morris
will surely look toward his older team-
mates for the answers.
"Whatever they (Michigan veterans)
ask of me, I do," Morris said. "They've
been here a while and they know what it
takes." Morris' teammates have
already christened the new up and
coming star with a few choice
nicknames.
"They call me Smurf, Little Smurf,
Baby Smurf .. ."
Miichigan may have been lucky...
. . .but what's wrong with that?
B SCHEMBECHLER bristled at the question. His team had just won its
first Big Ten contest; a dramatic nail-biter against a brewing
power. The Badgers handily outgained the Wolverines in total yardage, but
fumbled twice inside the Michigan's 10-yard line, letting Bo's boys off the
hook.
And wouldn't you know, some wet blanket had the audacity to ask Bo if he
felt lucky to come out victorious. Negative rascal.
"If you think that I'm going to say that we were lucky," Schembechler
said, his temperature visibly rising a degree or two, "the answer is no. We
were not lucky. We were good enough to win, 20-14. That's it."
Perhaps the words very fortunate might sit a little better with the
Michigan general. Probably not. But in all due respect to the Wolverines,
they were very fortunate to beat Wisconsin.
This is not to take anything away from Michigan's effort. That little water
bug, Jamie Morris, had a fantastic game, scooting for 138 yards. Quarter-
back Jim Harbaugh helped the cause by throwing to the guys in blue, when
he wasn't running from the guys in red. And the defense may have caused
some of those Badger turnovers with crackling tackles.
But on this day and on this field Wisconsin looked just a tad better than
Michigan. The Badgers dominated the statistics. They had more rushing
yards, slightly more passing yards, more yards per play and far fewer
penalties.
Yes, the Wolverines were lucky to beat
this team. But then again, so what if they
were? What's wrong with being lucky once
in a while? Schembechler might not care
for the word, but you can be sure he will
take lucky every time if it means winning.
"I'd rather be lucky than good," a wise
man said long ago.
And let's not forget another important
stat Wisconsin dominated in - turnovers.
Final tally: Wisconsin 6, Michigan 0.
"We stopped ourselves with all those
turnovers," said Wisconsin's Larry
Emery, who finished with 185 rushing yards. Emery
"If it wasn't for the fumbles," added quarterback Mike Howard, "we would
have won today."
Don't mind the Badgers if they sound a trifle bitter. Yesterday was their
best chance to end a 22-year Wisconsin losing streak at Michigan Stadium.
And they let the opportunity slip right out of their hands and into Michigan's.
Wisconsin spotted Michigan a three-point lead by fumbling on the opening
kickoff. The Badgers coughed it up again on the next series at the Michigan
nine-yard line. Later in the first quarter they drove 82 yards, only to fumble
on first-and-goal from the one. In the second quarter a great punt return en-
ded with yet another loose ball. What rotten luck.
That man you saw on the sidelines with the noose around his neck was
Wisconsin coach Dave McClain. "You just can't have five fumbles and one
interception against Michigan," said a dejected McClain.
Michigan, on the other hand, held on tight to the pigskin, unlike last week's
five-turnover fiasco against Washington. True, its early 10-0 lead came cour-
tesy of Badger generosity. True also that it was saved by two fourth-quarter
turnovers that stopped Badger scoring drives.
But the Wolverines drove the ball when they had to in the second half. And
once they got the lead they didn't turn the ball over. Awfully lucky of them.
Of course, some Wisconsin players made some convincing agruments why
they deserved to win. One outspoken bugger even said that Michigan was,
pardon the expression, lucky.
"I feel they were lucky," said Emery. "We gained more yards on the
No matter the nickname, Morris has
the raw talent. The size? Well, it doesn't
seem to be a detriment, but just in case,
having just turned 18 in June who
Daily Photo by JEFF SCHRIER knows, Jamie Morris may have another
.. couple of inches to go.
. _ _ _ _
Jamie Morris cuts up field with one of his 28 carries against Wisconsin yesterday. Morris rusned fr 138 yards in the
game.
Big Ten Standings
n_..r............